Once you've found the perfect home, the next step is to make an offer. You may have some experience in negotiating if you've ever bought a car. But now were taking about the biggest purchase of your life. Negotiation is an art. This is a time when someone with our experience and objectivity can really help.
 
Don't make the mistake of trying to be a killer negotiator. Giving a low-ball offer may lose you the home you love. 

The listing price is what the seller would like to receive but is not necessarily what they will settle for. The more you know about a sellers motivation, the stronger a negotiating position you are in. For example, a seller who must move quickly due to a job transfer may be amenable to a lower price with a speedy escrow. Other so-called "motivated sellers" include people going through a divorce or who have already purchased another home.

To be successful to negotiating an offer, a buyer should listen closely to the advice of a Buyer's Agent. We are skilled in researching sellers and negotiating on the buyer's behalf. Before making an offer, we check the recent sales prices of comparable homes in the neighborhood to see how the sellers asking price stacks up. We also check to see how long the house has been on the market, and other things that could affect price. We discourage making a "deliberate" low-ball offer. While such an offer can be presented, it can also sour the sale and discourage the seller from negotiating at all. Why? Among other factors, a low ball offer puts the seller on the defensive and discourages a win-win negotiation. 

Consider these two points when making an offer: first, make your offer look good to a seller and include substantial earnest money deposit. Acceptance of an offer is sometimes determined by the amount of the deposit. A larger amount may signify a bigger commitment to the seller; and second, minimize or eliminate contingencies. The fewer contingencies, the stronger the offer!

Having he necessary information and negotiating skills is crucial to getting a fair price with minimum conflict between your needs and those of the seller. If you would like to talk about buying a home and how we can help, please call or send an email.